Writers

Born in a household of educators and educationalists, and brought up in an atmosphere of teaching and learning, Mrs Shamim David has pursued literary activities since school days. In these she was encouraged by her family and friends but her talent in expressive and persuasive writing bloomed to its fullness when she decided to write for the oppressed classes of society. Mrs David received her early education by senior family members and was greatly influenced by her father, Headmaster, Naseer Khan, whom she remembers both as an affectionate father and a strict disciplinarian. She received her high school education at Government High School, Daska, and her college education from Gordon College, Rawalpindi, and Murray College Sialkot, where she graduated with a B.A. in psychology (with distinction). Still latter, she received a B.Ed degree for which she had studied privately.

Her articles and columns are, therefore, steeped both in communal issues, that effect most Christian households, and comprise of a dedicated intellectual struggle to improve Pakistan's society as a whole. In her columns, she informs, challenges, debates, provokes and above all seeks justice by dissecting the subject matter right down to its core, in a way that the real issue is exposed for what it is, and not for what it is made to appear by those in authority.

Being a keen observer of communal history of Pakistani minorities in general and Christian minorities in particular, she was moved to write about their plight. She started writing thought-provoking and challenging columns in 2003. These contributions which highlight the consequences of persecution the minoritiews have appeared in Daily Jang, London, and in Mahnama Humsookhan. Reading her columns one is impressed that neither any socio-political issue nor any significant legal matter has missed her sight. She has raised their voice about every conceivable injustice committed in Pakistan. Furthermore the choice of her words, the vastness of her vocabulary, and her command of the Urdu idiom is of a caliber that is not easy to find even among some of the most regularly published Urdu columnists. All these qualities point to the fact that she is a very widely read person, and keeps herself up to date with current affairs, especially those pertaining to the minorities in Pakistan. However, she stated, in a recent interview, that of the writers she has come across, she has found Irshad Haqqani, to be most impressive.

Mrs. David, after being a committed Christian is a patriotic Pakistani. Writing about Pakistan, she takes special pride in calling it, Hamara Pakistan (*Aug. 2010). She wrote, Masihi Qoum to bay laous rahnuma ki zroorat (Feb. 20014) which resonated with the heart cry of most Pakistani Chrisitans. Her patriotism serves to be the basis for all the things she finds wrong with her country, i.e. Aqaleeatain Pakistan main apni mazloomiaty ka roona kab tak rooti rahain geen (Dec. 2017), and Aqliatoon ka roona (Nov. 2017), Aqleatain aur khushnuma daway (April 2015). In her writings, she has often compared the situation of Muslims in UK, with that of the Christians and other minorities in Pakistan, i.e. Islam British shanakht ka hisa ho sakta hia? (March 2015) and Baroness Warsi ka Doura-e Pakistan (April 2017). These are but a spattering of the topics Mrs David had covered in her columns, in fact the range is much larger, and too large to be covered to any complete extent in a website like this.

It is however, hoped that Mrs David will continue to serve her community and the Urdu speaking community at large through her incisive pen, and clear debates for many years to come. On behalf CUWAP. Org it has been my privilege to interview her for this short write up and also to host her several times, among experts on the Gateway Gazette TV show.

To watch a TV discussion with Mrs Shamim David, please click the link:

Samson Javed, a famous Christian Urdu journalist was born in Quetta, and studied Journalism in Islamabad. He did B.Ed at Al-Hamad Islamic University Quetta and completed post graduate education from AA Hamilton College, London. He taught Chemistry and Biology at St. Michael's High School Quetta from 1996 - March 2011.

He started the journey of Journalism by publishing the magazine "Safeer" Sialkot, graduating to Assistant editor of different newspaper including "Aftab" Quetta, and then Editor of newspaper "Suraj" Quetta. He has written columns for Daily Jang, Daily Mashriq, Daily Aftab Quetta. Not content with just the print media, he has also written drama scripts for TV, Radio and Stage, including 32 dramas of 25 minutes and one drama of 45 minutes for PTV Quetta.

He has been the recipient of awards for: Best Writer, Best Journalist and Best Drama Writer from different organizations in Pakistan & London. Presently, he is a permanent weekly columnist for Daily Jang, London. He is one of the founders and the current president of Pakistan Christian Press Club (PCPC) -UK

He has always encouraged newcomers to write articles, gave coverage to politicians and raised Christian issues in Daily “Kundan” Quetta newspaper. I would say that he is our main voice in raising concerns and highlighting the minorities’ problems within the main Urdu media. His style of writing is exemplary in identifying and dissecting a problem, and then persuading the reader to look at it, from an unfamiliar perspective. And week after week he manages to do this seemingly impossible task, without offending anyone.

Mr Victor Daniel's contributions to the development of purposeful journalism in Urdu and an excellent literary heritage for the Christian community cannot be over stated. (Watch this space for a complete write up on who has literally touched the hands of St Teresa of Calcutta and has over many years of dedicated literary ministry have transformed the landscape of Urdu literature for generations to come) Akhtar Injeeli.

Reverend Falak Sher was born in a Pakistani Christian family of chak no. 201 Chandian Talawan, Faisalabad, in 1965. He started his early education in his village, continued his educational and spiritual quest at FGA Bible College Lahore and then proceeded to KDM International Centre Seoul Korea (2007) for further studies in theology. Indeed it was in the same year when Falak Sher joined the Sunday School Teacher Training in 1987, and since then he was blessed to have a spiritual and ministerial mentor in the form of Dr Hezkiel Serosh who guided and taught him since then.

Rev Falak Sher is a religious, social, political and human rights activist who spends a lot of his time enacting the gospel in addition to his preaching activities. Gospel Fellowship Ministry, a registered organization, is the fruit of his vision, activities and services. As a human rights activist he has helped widows, orphans and various other groups of deprived people.

Articles by him and about his work have appeared in a monthly magazine, 'Revival International' published from Lahore. His work and activism has been acknowledged by various nationally circulated newspapers ( i.e. Nawa-e-waqt, Pakistan, Aman, Shelter, Millet, Jang and others). He has authored the following four books:

Father Younis Shahzad ( فادر یونس شہزاد ) is a Dominican friar who has served on the editorial boards of two magazines, namely Acha Charwaha (اچھا چرواہا ) and Focus. He is a writer, orator,

researcher and a poet.

Father Shahzad was born on 10th December 1965 in a small town named Yousaf Walla in Sahiwal district. After completing his basic education in his native town he proceeded to seminary in preparation of priesthood. After a long and devoted period of study and contemplation he was ordained as a priest in 1996. After serving as a priest in Bahwalpur for one year and then in Satellite Town Parish of Rawalpindi for three years, in 2000 he was sent to Rome, Italy, for higher theological studies. There he studied at the Papal Gregorian University for two years. Upon return he started teaching . the doctrines of divinity, the holy trinity, and the divine aspects of revelations at the National Institute of Theology. In 2009 he was chosen to complete Formation course in the Philippines. In addition to his teaching responsibilities Father Shahzad takes keen interest in the development and training of the youth of his church.

His first book Christmas aur Bahsarat ( کرسمس اور بشارت )appeared in 2011. This 224 page paperback is a collection of various articles relating to the theme of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The book has a attractive four colour glossy cover designed by Elder Walayat Abdullah. It is hoped that a book review of the said volume will be available in the near future (hopefully!).